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Cruise News - January 30, 2012

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Bad weather was also hampering efforts to recover fuel oil from the ship. According to SMIT Salvage, the company hired to remove the fuel, adverse weather conditions continue to impact their oil removal operations. SMIT said that the bad weather forced them to remove their recovery equipment from the cruise ship and move it to the shelter of the nearby harbor.

Before the oil removal operations were halted SMIT said that two of the six forward fuel tanks had been installed with a sealed flange. The six forward tanks are estimated to hold approximately two thirds of the Costa Concordia's fuel oil.

The owners of the cruise ship, Costa Crociere, announced a compensation proposal for all passengers who were evacuated from the ship. According to the cruise company, the proposal is the result of negotiations between Costa Crociere and consumer associations protecting guests’ interests, with the support of multiple tourism and travel industry associations. In Italy, the company has already reached an agreement with the National Council of Consumers and Users, a national organization.

According to the proposal, the families of the deceased and guests who were injured and required medical treatment on site will be covered under a separate proposal that will take into account their individual circumstances.

The compensation package for Costa Concordia guests who have returned home includes the following:

• A lump sum of 11,000 euros (US$14,458.07 at today’s exchange rate) per person as indemnification, covering all patrimonial and nonpatrimonial damages, including loss of baggage and personal effects, psychological distress and loss of enjoyment of the cruise vacation;
• Reimbursement of the value of the cruise, including harbor taxes;
• Reimbursement of air and bus transfers included in the cruise package;
• Full reimbursement of travel expenses to reach the port of embarkation and return home;
• Reimbursement of any medical expenses resulting from the cruise;
• Reimbursement of expenses incurred on board during the cruise.

In announcing the proposal, Costa helpfully noted that the compensation package is higher than the current indemnification limits provided for in international conventions and laws currently in force. It also stressed that the 11,000 euro lump-sum payment is offered to all Costa Concordia passengers, including nonpaying children, regardless of their age.

Costa also has pledged not to deduct from this sum any amount paid by any insurance policy stipulated by guests. In addition, the company will return all goods stored in cabin safes, where retrieval is possible.

"The year ended on a strong note which more than offset the rise in oil prices and the strengthening U.S. dollar," said Brian Rice, chief financial officer. Rice continued, "For the year as a whole, adjusted for fuel price increases and geopolitical events, our earnings would have meaningfully exceeded the midpoint of our January 2011 guidance."

Fourth Quarter 2011 Results - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced fourth quarter 2011 net income of $36.6 million, or $0.17 per share, versus $31.9 million, or $0.15 per share, in 2010. Revenues improved to $1.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to $1.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010 as a result of capacity increases and yield improvements. Net Yields increased 3.5% on a Constant-Currency basis (+3.2% As-Reported.) NCC excluding fuel increased 3.7% on a Constant-Currency basis (+3.6% As-Reported.) Bunker pricing for the fourth quarter was $609 per metric ton and consumption was 342,000 metric tons. Absent changes in currency exchange rates and fuel pricing, all operational metrics for the fourth quarter were in-line with or better then the company's previous guidance.

Full Year 2011 Results - Also included in the announcement was full year 2011 net income of $607.4 million, or $2.77 per share, versus $515.7 million, or $2.37 per share, in 2010. Revenues improved to $7.5 billion for the full year of 2011 compared to $6.8 billion for the full year of 2010 as a result of capacity increases and yield improvements. Net Yields increased 2.4% on a Constant-Currency basis (+4.1% As-Reported.) NCC excluding fuel increased 1.3% on a Constant-Currency basis (+2.3% As-Reported.) Bunker pricing for the full year was $582 per metric ton and consumption was 1,314,000 metric tons. Versus the full year guidance the company provided in January 2011, we estimate that geopolitical events and fuel pricing negatively impacted earnings by approximately $0.65 and $0.20 per share, respectively.

Royal Caribbean provided the following update on the demand environment for 2012. Because the Costa Concordia incident is having such a significant near term effect on bookings and because that impact on the company's earnings is so uncertain, Royal Caribbean first described the situation prior to the event and then discussed the possible consequences.

Outlook Pre-Costa Concordia - Booking patterns at the end of 2011 were strong and WAVE season was off to an excellent start. During the two weeks prior to the tragedy, bookings averaged 5% more than the same period last year and at higher prices. Booked load factors and pricing were ahead of the same time last year in all four quarters.

Based on the bookings in hand at that time and the pattern of forward bookings through the period, Royal Caribbean said that it anticipated Constant-Currency yield improvement in the mid single digits for the year. This figure was influenced by two unique factors:
• Firstly, the company made some changes related to its International distribution system in 2011 which carry on into 2012 and will increase yields by about 130 basis points. The changes also increase expenses, but the bottom line impact is not material.
• Secondly, the company has increased its commitment in certain deployment initiatives which increase revenues but also increase related expenses. For example, China represents a strategic market initiative the company is augmenting significantly.

Altogether, these factors are expected to cause both Net Yields and NCCs for the full year 2012 to increase approximately 200 basis points and 300 basis points, respectively. Absent these factors, Royal Caribbean said that it estimates that its "normalized" Net Yield growth would have been in the range of 2% to 4% on a Constant-Currency basis.

Impact of Costa Concordia - Royal Caribbean said that it is very difficult to assess the impact of the incident on company revenues. It noted that the incident has been the subject of extensive media coverage and world-wide attention. In addition, Royal Caribbean said that it curtailed its marketing activities as did most cruise lines and travel agencies. Royal Caribbean said that it believes that most observers and potential guests understand that cruising is safe and that this incident was a very rare anomaly in an otherwise reliably safe vacation. But in the near term it has a significant impact on the company's bookings.

Royal Caribbean said that it pleased to note that there has been no material change in cancellation activity which has remained within normal levels. However, new booking activity has been hurt. Overall booking volumes from North America have fallen by low to mid-teen percentages versus same time last year for the last few weeks. In Europe, where media coverage has been more extensive, the decline has been higher, though results vary significantly by country. In aggregate the company's other markets, including Asia/Pacific and Latin America are down slightly. For the year as a whole, notwithstanding the recent slowdown, booked load factors and pricing are still higher than they were at the same time last year. This reflects the very robust starting position the company was in before the incident.

The impact on bookings has been greatest in the first three quarters and wanes as the year progresses. On the other hand, Royal Caribbean said that the first quarter also has more of its capacity booked making it less affected by changes in booking patterns. Spring and summer sailings are showing the largest declines in new bookings, while longer term bookings remain healthy. In addition, the company noted that the impact is much greater for first time cruisers compared to experienced cruisers. This reflects the greater knowledge experienced cruisers have about cruise vacations and ships.

Including the contribution from distribution changes and deployment initiatives noted above, Royal Caribbean said that it currently anticipates yield improvement for the full year 2012 to be in a range between 1% and 5% on a Constant-Currency basis and between flat and 4% on an As-Reported basis versus the prior year.

Royal Caribbean said that bookings have already started to recover, particularly in North America and the company does not expect that this event will have a significant long term impact on its business.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “In line with our proposal to end retail discounting and increase profits for agents, we will be removing the 5% online booking discount from our website with the publication of our next brochure. We would like to be in a position where ‘the price you see is the price you get’, and is the same wherever you see it, and this will help to ensure a level playing field for all our travel trade partners.

“This decision demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the trade, whilst continuing to give our customers the widest possible range of options for booking their cruise holidays with Fred. Olsen.”

This initiative forms part of a marketing push in 2012, which has seen a significant investment by Fred. Olsen to create demand and drive customers into agents’ shops and onto agents’ ‘phones. Fred. Olsen has welcomed an encouraging uplift in bookings in early 2012 as a result of this increased brand awareness, which has included a prominent TV campaign, millions of inserts in the national press, and over a million brochures and direct mail pieces produced and mailed for agents.

Greek Isles & Turkish Delights I - set sail from Athens on a journey through history, from Minoan ruins on Santorini to the Celsus Library at Ephesus. As you pull in to the harbor, the stunning white-washed buildings and blue domes of Santorini welcome you to this breathtaking region. Dine on fresh seafood at chic seaside cafes, or spend the afternoon browsing the local Mykonos boutiques. Sip on ink-black Turkish coffee in a Bodrum tavern. Take a journey back in time while admiring the glorious ancient ruins of the Library of Celsus and Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

Seven-day sailings from Athens to Istanbul visit Mykonos, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Bodrum, Turkey; and Kusadasi, Turkey depart May 5, 19, 26; June 2, 9, 16, 30; July 14, 28; August 11, 18, 25; September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; and October 6, 20, 2012.

Greek Isles & Turkish Delights II - capture the mystery of exotic Istanbul before sailing on to the chic islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Discover the vestiges of Ottoman glory at the famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul. Savor the sensuous aromas of exotic spices at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. Toast a glorious Aegean afternoon with a glass of ouzo in Santorini. View the majestic temple to Athena – the Parthenon on the Acropolis – with its dazzling presence towering over modern Athens.

Seven-day sailings from Istanbul to Athens visit Kusadasi, Turkey; Rhodes, Greece; Bodrum, Turkey; Santorini, Greece; and Mykonos, Greece depart May 19, 26; June 2, 9, 16, 23; July 7, 21; August 4, 18, 25; September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; and October 6, 27, 2012.

The line has launched a "1,000 Memories at Sea" contest inviting passengers to submit their best cruise vacation shots, which will be displayed on the walls of hallways between staterooms and in other locations around the ship. In addition, one lucky photographer will win a cruise for two, including airfare, on Royal Princess.

Whether they captured the perfect Caribbean sunset, caught Alaska wildlife in action, found a breathtaking rainbow over Hawaii, or snapped a meaningful moment onboard, passengers can submit their favorite cruise photos on Facebook, at princess.com/royalprincesscontest or by mail. The "1,000 Memories at Sea" contest will be judged by a panel which is looking for creativity, originality, style, and images that capture the spirit of what it means to "escape completely." Contest judges include Rai Caluori, Princess' executive vice president of fleet operations; Teresa Anderson, the line's vice president of interior design, and Ian Johnson, director of photography and video for Princess.

"With the introduction of Royal Princess, we wanted to pay tribute to our passengers and their vacation memories made aboard our ships," said Jan Swartz, executive vice president for Princess. "This contest will be a fun opportunity for 1,000 of our passengers to be permanently recognized aboard our new ship, so they should start sifting through their travel photos now, and submit a remarkable shot to be considered."

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	30.13	- 4.06%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	27.18	- 4.06%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.65	+ 2.32%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
What year did Carnival Cruise Lines begin operations and what was the name of their first cruise ship? Bonus: What was the original name of this ship and which line did she sail for?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - Name the two 14,000 ton sister ships that entered service for Cunard in 1971 & 1972 and were replaced in 1976 & 1977.

Answer - The ships that entered Cunard's fleet in 1971 and 1972 were the Cunard Adventurer (Sunward II, Triton, Coral) and the Cunard Ambassador. They were replaced in 1976 and 1977 by the Cunard Countess and Cunard Princess.
courtesy of Patrick Race, Berkeley CA

Cruise News - January 23, 2012

Salvage workers are preparing to begin pumping more than 2400 tons of heavy fuel from the stricken cruise ship. Divers have inspected the forward section of the submerged underwater part of the ship and have marked the drilling locations of the heavy fuel oil tanks. As the fuel is removed it will be replaced with water to help maintain the balance of the ship and keep it in its current position until complete salvage plans are finalized. Dutch company SMIT salvage is heading the salvage efforts.

During a hearing into the accident on Wednesday, Pier Luigi Foschi, chief executive officer of Costa Crociere, a unit of Carnival Corp. testified that Schettino called Roberto Ferrarini, Costa Crociere's head of marine operations at least six times before the call for evacuation was made. The first call was made at 9:57 pm when Schettino informed Ferrarini that the ship had hit a rock and was taking on water. Foschi's testimony seemed to contradict earlier claims that Costa officials were not notified of the accident until well after it occurred.

On January 16th, Foschi had claimed that Schettino had not report the incident until 10:06 pm. They company also said that the captain had deviated from the planned course and suggested that the accident was squarely on Schettino shoulders. Since then, evidence has emerged that suggests the course changes to allow the ship to pass closely by the island of Giglio may have approved by Costa as it had been during a previous close pass last August. According to Beniamino Deidda, the chief prosecutor investigating the shipwreck, the role of both the captain and the ship's owner must be considered before drawing any conclusions as to where the blame for accident should be placed.

Captain Schettino, is currently under house arrest at his home near Naples but during testimony last week he said that he did not alert the passengers immediately after the incident because he did no want to cause panic and that he focused his efforts on getting the ship closer to land to prevent sinking and facilitate an orderly evacuation. He also claimed to haven "fallen" into a lifeboat while helping to load passenger and that he helped coordinate the evacuation from the lifeboat.

Carnival Corporation & plc and the cruise industry as a whole have maintained an excellent safety record over the years. "However, this tragedy has called into question our company's safety and emergency response procedures and practices," said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. "While I have every confidence in the safety of our vessels and the professionalism of our crews, this review will evaluate all practices and procedures to make sure that this kind of accident doesn't happen again."

The review is being led by Captain James Hunn, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and currently the company's senior vice president of Maritime Policy & Compliance. Following a 32-year career in the Navy, Hunn has held senior positions at Carnival Corporation & plc for nearly a decade, focusing on corporate-wide efforts to establish maritime policy standards, while overseeing the company's health, environmental, safety, and security practices.

Hunn and senior health and safety executives from each of the lines will review all safety and emergency response policies and procedures, officer and crew training and evaluation, bridge management and company-wide response and support efforts. Hunn will report to the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee of the Board, and to Howard Frank, vice chairman and chief operations officer of Carnival Corporation & plc.

In addition, the Health, Environment, Safety & Security Committee is engaging outside industry-leading experts in the fields of emergency response organization, training and implementation to conduct an audit of all of the company's emergency response and safety procedures and to conduct a thorough review of the Costa Concordia accident. PFrank said, "This company-wide initiative will identify lessons learned and best practices to further ensure the security and safety of all of our passengers and crew."

Carnival Corporation & plc also supports the call for a comprehensive evaluation of safety regulations by the International Maritime Organization, which was requested earlier today by the Cruise Lines International Association.

With the addition of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy to the fleet of cruise ships, Disney Cruise Line is able to take more families to more destinations around the world. Disney Cruise Line has always catered to the unique vacation needs of families, and next year will be enhancing the cruise options for guests — whether it’s sun and sand in the Caribbean, outdoor adventures in Alaska or experiencing the wonders of Europe.

Highlights of the Disney Cruise Line 2013 schedule (which can be booked beginning Jan. 26, 2012) include…

Mediterranean from Barcelona - Beginning June 1, 2013, the Disney Magic returns to Europe with plenty of new twists to the Mediterranean itineraries, including a four-night option and special 12-night sailings in addition to seven-night itineraries that treat guests to the best of Europe during the three-month season.

The new 12-night sailings visit destinations such as Venice, Italy, and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast on one itinerary and Ephesus, Turkey and the Greek Isles including Athens, on another. Each itinerary will offer a sailing departing in June and another departing in July.

All itineraries depart from Barcelona, Spain, as the Disney Magic takes guests on an exciting journey of richly diverse cities, cultures and people. With romantic boulevards, bustling bazaars, iconic locations, mild climates, sun-drenched islands and the brilliant blue Mediterranean Sea, guests will enjoy a world-class family vacation with legendary Disney guest service.

Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Miami - Disney Cruise Line will sail from Miami for the first time on Dec. 23, 2012. One six- and one seven-night Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Wonder will set the stage for a schedule of four- and five-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean between Jan. 5, 2013, and May 2, 2013. The four- and five-night cruises have a variety of itineraries. Ports of call may include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Key West; Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

The itineraries offer families magical days at sea to explore all of the fun aboard the Disney Wonder and days in port to lounge on warm, golden beaches, to swim and snorkel in azure waters or to shop to their heart’s content in exotic marketplaces.

Western Caribbean from Galveston - The Disney Magic, which will begin sailing from Texas in 2012, will continue to sail from the Port of Galveston through May 2013, to the Western Caribbean.

Alaska from Vancouver - Beginning May 27, 2013, the Disney Wonder will sail seven-night cruises from Vancouver to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska.

These cruises will combine the natural wonder and adventurous spirit of Alaska with the unparalleled, family-friendly experience found on a Disney Cruise Line ship. Disney Cruise Line worked closely with Alaskan tour operators to create exclusive-to-Disney family-friendly Port Adventures that allow guests to best experience Alaska’s natural beauty and rich history.

Caribbean and Bahamas from Port Canaveral - The Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral.

The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings, January through April 2013, stop at San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

The Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

"We are very pleased to introduce our newest Cunarder to Bay Area residents who have historically extended a gracious welcome to our fleet of Queens," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. "The city's warm hospitality, iconic landmarks, world-class dining and culture are always a highlight for our well-travelled guests."

Named by Her Majesty The Queen in Southampton, England in October 2010, Queen Elizabeth is the second largest Cunarder ever built, after flagship Queen Mary 2. Cunard's longtime relationship with Great Britain's Royal Family is reflected throughout the ship, including a specially-commissioned portrait of Her Majesty The Queen.

While this will be Queen Elizabeth's inaugural visit to San Francisco, the city has held historical significance for Cunard ships since 1942, when the original Queen Elizabeth visited as part of her war duties, and where she also underwent a refit. Later, in 1978, Queen Elizabeth 2 made her maiden call to San Francisco, visiting a dozen times more in subsequent years. Five years ago to the day of Queen Elizabeth's upcoming maiden call, flagship Queen Mary 2 was warmly received by hundreds who came out to welcome her during her 2007 inaugural visit; and Queen Victoria was also graciously greeted by the city during her 2009 maiden call.

From February through June of 2013 Queen of Mississippi will operate seven day itineraries from either New Orleans and Memphis. From July to October, Queen of Mississippi will depart on seven day itineraries from St.Louis, St. Paul, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. In November, Queen of Mississippi will resume the seven day itineraris from New Orleans and Memphis.

“We’re excited about the release of 2013 sailings aboard Queen of the Mississippi,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President, American Cruise Lines. “We received a wonderful response to the 2012 inaugural season and look forward to further accommodating this demand with the 2013 schedule.”

Similar to the 2012 season, theme cruises will be featured throughout, including the Civil War and Mark Twain, with new additions such as musical and holiday-themed cruises. Details on these special cruises will be released later in the year. Entertainment will also be a key component, with various featured local and national entertainers spanning a range of music genres, including Jazz, Dixie Land and Blues. A resident onboard riverlorian (river historian) will also be aboard each cruise, while additional lecturers and experts also join guests along the cruise to educate, entertain and captivate them along the way.

The Queen of the Mississippi boasts 78 staterooms much larger than those on any other Mississippi riverboat, with sliding glass doors to spacious private balconies, and all of the amenities today’s travelers expect, while maintaining the elegance and traditional Victorian luxury of classic late 1800s Mississippi riverboats. American Cruise Lines will operate the authentic paddlewheeler over the entire Mississippi River System, including the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. The Queen of the Mississippi will also be able to travel at significantly higher speeds than all other Mississippi riverboats, minimizing night travel and making more itineraries possible with longer visits to the river towns. A number of unique riverboat journeys are planned that take passengers as far north as St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi River and as far east as Pittsburgh, PA on the Ohio River.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	31.51	+ 6.45%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	28.33	+ 5.04%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.59	+12.61%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Name the two 14,000 ton sister ships that entered service for Cunard in 1971 & 1972 and were replaced in 1976 & 1977.

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - MS Athena is a cruise ship owned and operated by Classic International Cruises. What is this ship's claim to fame (...or infamy as the case may be)?

Answer - She was formerly the Stockholm which was responsible for the crashing into and sinking the Andrea Doria. courtesy of David Justice

Cruise News - January 16, 2012

The ship had departed from Civitavecchia (Rome) earlier that day and was carrying approximately 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members. At approximately 9:30 pm, while many passengers were eating dinner, the ship struck submerged rocks which ripped a 160 ft gash into the starboard side of the vessel. The ship began taking on water immediately and soon developed a list to the port side. The captain, in an apparent effort to get the ship to shallow waters, turned the ship around and headed towards the harbor on the island of Giglio.

Initially the passengers were told that there was an electrical problem as the lights had temporarily gone out shortly after the ship struck the rocks. As the ship began to list, some passenger headed to their cabins to retrieve their life jackets even though no formal lifeboat drill had been held. About 10:10 pm the order to abandon ship was given and passengers started boarding the lifeboats.

At 10:20 pm the Italian Coast Guard began assisting the evacuation and coordinating the use of local vessels to assist the evacuation. The first lifeboat reached the harbor at approximately 11:15. By early Saturday morning the evacuation had been completed and an initial survey of those on shore revealed that approximately 29 people were unaccounted for.

At 11:40 pm Friday evening the captain of the Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, was found ashore while hundreds of passengers were still looking for a way to get off of the ship. Costa wasted little time before releasing a statement where they put much of the blame for the accident on Captain Schettino.

In the statement, the Costa said "We are working with investigators to find out precisely what went wrong aboard the Costa Concordia. While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary indications are that there may have been significant human error on the part of the ship’s master, Captain Francesco Schettino, which resulted in these grave consequences. The route of the vessel appears to have been too close to the shore, and in handling the emergency the captain appears not to have followed standard Costa procedures. We are aware that the lead Prosecutor has leveled serious accusations against the ship’s captain, who joined Costa Crociere in 2002 as a safety officer and was appointed captain in 2006."

At this time, Captain Schettino is under house arrest at his home near Naples.

Costa Concordia was sailing a Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) with scheduled calls at Savona, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Palma de Mallorca; Cagliari and Palermo, Italy. Approximately 1,000 passengers of Italian nationality were on board, as well as more than 500 Germans, 250 North Americans, about 160 French and about 1,000 crew members.

Lloyd's List has uncovered new evidence which indicates that last Friday's Costa Concordia disaster may not be a black and white case of shipmaster error.

The cruise ship, which capsized off the Italian coast, had previously changed course to get closer to Giglio on the night of August 14 last year, owners Costa Cruises have said. The company's CEO, Pier Luigi Foschi, stressed the decision was taken under the authorisation of the local maritime authority and the permission of Costa after the route was reviewed. In a news conference on Monday, he claimed that the vessel was never closer than 500 metres from the coast at any point in that voyage.

Last Friday's ill-fated route, however, was described by Costa Cruises as a deviation from the pre-planned route to make a manoeuvre that was "unauthorised, unapproved and unknown to Costa."

However, tracking data obtained by Lloyd's List Intelligence proprietary land-based AIS receivers shows that the approved and unapproved routes were just metres apart and that the previously approved route took the vessel closer to shore than the unapproved route.

"The previously approved route took the vessel far closer to shore than the 500 metres claimed by Costa," explains Richard Meade, Editor of Lloyd's List. "This is not a black and white case. Our data suggests that both routes took the vessel within 200 metres of the impact point and that the authorised route was actually closer to shore."

Charts could be a critical part of the case for the defence, should the master face criminal prosecution. UKHO charts of the area show no rocks in the area where Concordia was holed.

"More and more families are choosing a cruise for their vacation since it represents such a good value and offers so much for the entire family. In fact, close to 150,000 children sailed on our ships in 2010 and that number continues to rise," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "We've already taken family programming to the next level by offering Nickelodeon experiences on some ships. Now, we want to make sure that we are continuing to offer the best possible experience for families. To do this, we are investing millions of dollars in revamping our youth and family programming."

The current program, Norwegian's Kid's Crew in place since 1999, will be renamed and the age groups are being redefined to better address the skills and interests of children. The new age groups will be: three to five years; six to eight years; nine to 12 years; along with two teen groups: 13 to 14 and 15 to 17 years. There will also be programming for babies and toddlers ages six months to two years.

The new fully developed and enhanced curriculum tailored to each age group is being produced in conjunction with The King's Foundation and Camps, a United Kingdom-based organization that provides high quality sport and activity programs designed to make a positive impact on children. More focus will be placed on sporting activities, arts and crafts, theater and technology. Activities will change every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the age group and will be set within blocks of programming time in the morning, afternoon and evening.

The new curriculum will also include creative themes, such as circus day, theater/technology/sports and port of call day. The company has engaged Cirque Du Jour, a New York-based company that specializes in teaching children real circus skills such as scarf juggling, ball juggling, plate spinning, clowning and acrobatics. Circus workshops and shows will also be offered for the entire family.

In addition, the youth programs will be expanded to utilize other areas of the ships, including the sports courts, rock walls, theaters, lounges and public spaces and will feature more family events such as parades and scavenger hunts.

"We want to ensure our youth and teens are engaged in the programs we offer and that they are having fun," said Richard Ambrose, Norwegian Cruise Line's vice president of entertainment. "We have designed this new youth program to cater to the specific interests and skill sets of children and teens to ensure that they are having the vacation of a lifetime."

The company is also investing in its youth staff, by increasing the ratio of staff to children and establishing new criteria for the hiring of counselors, including the requirement of a college degree in recreation or child care (or the equivalent experience).

The line currently offers exclusive Nickelodeon family events, shows and activities on three ships: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Gem (beginning mid-February). Activities include pool games, breakfast with the characters, where kids ? and adults ? can eat, sing and play with SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Patrick, Diego and more; Dora's Dance Party, where kids can join Dora and the Nickelodeon cast to dance and sing along; meet and greets with popular Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and many more. In addition, there are also other family activities offered, including Nick Jr. story time, family trivia and special arts and crafts sessions.

"At this time, our priority is the safety of our passengers and crew," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and our hearts go out to everyone affected by the grounding of the Costa Concordia and especially to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. They will remain in our thoughts and prayers," Arison said.

In accordance with financial disclosure requirements, the company provides the following information:

The company has insurance coverage for damage to the vessel with a deductible of approximately $30 million as well as insurance for third party personal injury liability subject to an additional deductible of approximately $10 million for this incident. The company self-insures for loss of use of the vessel.

A damage assessment review of the vessel is currently being undertaken to determine how long it will be out of service. The vessel is expected to be out of service for the remainder of our current fiscal year if not longer. For the fiscal year ending November 30, the impact to 2012 earnings for loss of use is expected to be approximately $85-$95 million or $0.11-$0.12 per share. In addition, the company anticipates other costs to the business that are not possible to determine at this time.

Carnival Corporation & plc, which is the parent company of Costa Cruises, is traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	29.60	- 10.52%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	26.97	+ 5.437%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.30	- 3.77%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
MS Athena is a cruise ship owned and operated by Classic International Cruises. What is this ship's claim to fame (...or infamy as the case may be)?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - MS Athena is a cruise ship owned and operated by Classic International Cruises. What is this ship's claim to fame (...or infamy as the case may be)?

Answer - She was formerly the Stockholm which was responsible for the crashing into and sinking the Andrea Doria. courtesy of David Justice

Cruise News - January 9, 2012

The ship was then berthed alongside the yard's pier where the remaining work on board will be completed.

Disney Fantasy is scheduled to be conveyed to the North Sea two weeks from now. The exact time and date of the passage on the river Ems will be set based on weather and tidal conditions.

Featuring 14 decks, a ship length of 1,115 feet and a maximum width of 125 feet, the 130,000-ton vessel includes 1,250 staterooms and has the capacity to accommodate 4,000 passengers—along with the over 1450 crew members. The official delivery of the ship from MEYER WERFT to Disney Cruise Line is scheduled to take place in Bremerhaven on February 9th.

Disney Fantasy will sail seven-night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries (Disney Dream sails on three-, four- and five-night cruise to the Bahamas). All cruises will depart from Port Canaveral, Fla., and include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Discover Italy as you never have before, experiencing it as locals do on Windstar's Islands of Italy voyages. Cruising round-trip from Rome, see the best of the past and present. Visit the island of Ischia, the ruins of Pompeii near Sorrento, stunning waters and stalwart citadels of Lipari, sail around the Stromboli Volcano in the Tyrrhenian Sea, enjoy the sun-kissed charms of Port Cervo on Sardinia, and Corsica's beautiful Porto Vecchio where ancient cobblestone streets host fashionable shops and cafes.

Islands of Italy sailings depart April 21, 28; August 4; October 6, 2012. As a featured itinerary in Windstar's Europe Sail & Stay Packages, guests can receive two-for-one cruise fares starting from $2,199 per person, double occupancy, plus two free hotel nights in Rome, when they book an Islands of Italy voyage by February 24, 2012.

Guests can upgrade their Sail & Stay Package to a Windstar Land Package before or after their Islands of Italy voyage. The Land Package includes multi-day, private tours of top cultural and historical venues in Rome including Venice Square, Imperial Palaces, Coliseum, Circus Maximus, Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, and Square of St. Peter. A professional, English-speaking tour guide, private transportation, and tour entrance fees are also included in the package.

Shore excursions offered on Islands of Italy which can be booked in advance include:

• Ischia, Italy: Ischia Island Tour – Discover resort areas of Ischia Porto and Casamicciola, charming Lacco Ameno, seafront promenade of Forio, views of the Sant'Angelo fishing village, and the Castello Argonese.

• Lipari, Italy: Lipari Highlights – Visit a castle with mighty Spanish walls, archeological sites, the Aeolian Archeological Museum and view the infamous Faraglioni rocks.

• Porto Cervo, Italy: Costa Smeralda – Tour the Emerald Coast and explore the archaeological site of Coddu Vecchiu and the small village of the Baia Sardinia.

• Porto Cervo, Italy: Costa Smeralda and Wine Tasting – Begin with wine tasting at Vigne Surrau, a vineyard located on a hillside above the sea, explore Baja Sardinia, and enjoy a guided tour of Porto Cervo.

• Porto Vecchio, France: Bonifacio Scenic Sights and Little Train – See the medieval city of Bonifacio, enjoy a ride on the Little Train to view the

• Citadel and Old Genoese town, and finish with a guided walk.

• Sorrento, Italy: Boat Tour to Positano – Take a private motorboat ride along the coast to Positano, once a sleepy fishing village and home to renowned artists, which feature Moorish-style houses set in luxurious gardens.

• Sorrento, Italy: Pompeii – Journey to the ruins of Pompeii, perfectly preserved since the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79 and gain insight into lives of ancient Romans.

Scheduled May through October, the itineraries range from seven to 15 days and also visit the region during the height of the fall foliage display as summer turns to autumn and leaves change to vibrant hues of red, orange and gold. Veendam repositions to the region in 2012, increasing Holland America Line's capacity and making it possible for more travelers to experience one of nature's most impressive showings.

"Our Canada/New England itineraries are always popular, and by adding Veendam to the area during the fall foliage season more travelers are able to see this beautiful region during this special time of year," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Maasdam is there throughout the summer as well, making it the perfect cruise for friends, couples, solo travelers and families looking to explore an interesting travel destination that's close to home."

Maasdam begins the season with a 15-day northbound cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. During the voyage, guests will visit Charleston, S.C.; Newport, R.I.; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Gaspe and Sept-Iles, Saguenay; and Quebec City, Quebec, before arriving at Montreal. Highlights include an overnight call at Quebec City, Holland America Line's highest rated port of call, and the premium line's only call at Sept-Iles this season.

From May 12 through the Sept. 29 departure, Maasdam offers 15 seven-day sailings between Montreal and Boston, with calls at Quebec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor. The itineraries feature scenic cruising along the St. Lawrence River and make an ideal option for families looking to take a summer cruise without traveling abroad.

Maasdam concludes the season with a 13-day sailing Oct. 6 from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale. Ports of call include Quebec City, Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Gaspe, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Port Canaveral, Florida.

During the height of the 2012 fall foliage season, Eurodam will sail three 10-day cruises in September and October between New York and Quebec City. The ship will call at Newport, Rhode Island; Gloucester (Boston), Mass.; Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and Saguenay. The itinerary also features an overnight call at Quebec City and scenic cruising along Saguenay Fjord.

On Oct. 14 Eurodam will depart on a 13-day cruise from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale. The cruise begins with an overnight aboard ship in Quebec City and then sails for Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Bar Harbor, Gloucester (Boston) and Newport.

Veendam begins its Canada/New England season with a 13-day cruise from New York to Montreal Sept. 2. The ship will call at Gloucester, Bar Harbor, St. John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Gaspe, Saguenay and Quebec City along the way. Guests on this itinerary will enjoy an overnight call at Quebec City before arriving at Montreal.

In September and October, Veendam will sail five seven-day itineraries between Montreal and Boston. Ports of call include Quebec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor, with scenic cruising along the St. Lawrence River.

In addition to the Thrill 5D Theater, Carnival Breeze will be the first ship to feature all of the new entertainment options introduced as part the Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement program, a $500 million initiative that will completely transform Carnival's on-board guest experience.

Also, many of the ship's entertainment features and other elements are highlighted within a new virtual tour, and series of panoramic images and videos debuting today on www.carnivalbreeze.com.

With Carnival Breeze's Thrill 5D Theater, guests will enjoy an exhilarating, multi-dimensional experience that will make them feel like they are actually in the movie. The theater combines a high-definition 3D projection system with 4D elements such as squirting water and bubbles, and original special effects that will tickle guests' legs, blow air on their necks and poke them in their seats. Seats within the theater will shift back and forth, move from side to side and also vibrate, creating an exciting "fifth-dimensional" element. Guests will receive special 3D glasses that deliver a truly immersive movie-going experience.

To excite fans about Carnival's new Thrill 5D Theater and to get them into the "movie-viewing" mindset, the company under license from Hasbro, Inc. has created "The 5D Challenge: TRIVIAL PURSUIT Edition" on Facebook. Contest participants are asked to answer movie-themed trivia questions from Hasbro's popular TRIVIAL PURSUIT brand.

One prize will be given away daily for the next five days (January 9-13) with contestants required to correctly answer three daily trivia questions to enter into a prize drawing. Prizes include a 50-inch 3D Plasma HDTV, 3D phone, HD camcorder, and a $250 movie theater gift card. Also Hasbro Video and Board Game Prize Packs, including an Xbox 360 gaming console, will be given away throughout the contest period.

"We are delighted to continue our collaboration with our brand partner Hasbro on this unique contest showcasing Carnival Breeze's new 5D Theatre, which will be part of the ship's many exciting on-board features designed to thrill, captivate and entertain our guests," said Jim Berra, Carnival's senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

Carnival Breeze will be the first ship to feature all of the new entertainment offerings that are part of the line's Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement initiative. Among the exciting options is Hasbro, The Game Show, a series of larger-than-life productions and entertainment activities based on the popular Family Game Night television series produced by Hasbro Studios and seen on The Hub, a network for children and their families. Hasbro, The Game Show will put guests right in the middle of their favorite Hasbro games. Six main games are to be featured: Sorry! Sliders, which involves a giant shuffleboard court; Simon Flash, where two teams of four guests wear giant light-up color boxes and must shuffle themselves quickly to repeat a color sequence; Yahtzee Bowling, with a giant ball and larger-than-life-sized bowling pins; Operation SAM DUNK, which is set up like a skee-ball board where contestants try to get the balls into different slots on the "patient's" body, and Connect 4 BASKETBALL, which uses a basketball setup rather than the traditional checkers to play.

Carnival Breeze will also be the first ship to offer Playlist Productions which will combine captivating live performances with high-tech LED staging and special effects to set a new standard in seagoing entertainment. These exhilarating revues are set to widely popular and memorable music encompassing a variety of styles, genres and eras. Playlist performances will have guests singing along and dancing in their seats during the hit-packed, 30-minute shows created by leading producers, directors and choreographers who have worked on critically acclaimed productions for Broadway, London's West End and some of the world's most popular musical acts.

Also featured on Carnival Breeze will be the new "Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez" through a partnership with the popular comedian and TV personality. Lopez is serving as Carnival's "curator of comedy," acting as a consultant on the vetting and hiring of comedic talent for the line's hugely popular comedy program. Additionally, DJs on the Carnival Breeze will be trained under the new "DJ IRIE Spin'iversity" led by the award-winning DJ IRIE, a highly talented disc jockey widely known in Miami and Las Vegas.

Other features on the Carnival Breeze will include Guy's Burger Joint, which will offer burgers custom-created by renowned chef and Food Network star Guy Fieri, a Red Frog Pub, featuring Carnival's own private-label draft beer – ThirstyFrog Red, Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian eatery and a wide variety of other fun and exciting dining, bar and entertainment options.

Perhaps it's exiting "hyperscheduling" to relax and reconnect with family in the Caribbean sun. Or, exiting the 12-hour rush hour to leisurely indulge in the beauty and culture of Europe by day, and fine wines served by one of the world's largest staffs of expertly trained sommeliers by night. Maybe it's exiting headlines, deadlines and check out lines to view the breathtaking vista of Alaska from a private veranda.

"At Celebrity, we recognize that consumers' vacation time is precious, and we're committed to offering a modern luxury experience that makes the most of that time," said Celebrity Cruises Vice President of Marketing Lisa Kauffman. "We believe no other cruise brand – and for that matter, very few land-based hotels or resorts – deliver on the concept of modern luxury; and by that, we mean the modernity of our ships' design, the anticipatory and engaging service of our crew, the spectacular quality of our food, the wide variety of dining options, and the inviting ambiance of every restaurant, bar, boutique, spa, stateroom and suite onboard. Modern luxury very succinctly and genuinely sums up the Celebrity brand."

Consumers can express what they'd like to exit to enter Celebrity's modern luxury – and share it socially – through an engaging, interactive digital experience on Celebrity's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/celebritycruises. There, they can create a complimentary e-card and upload a photo to share with others what they want to exit from and the destination they want to experience most, and register for Celebrity's "Exit to Enter" sweepstakes running from January 9 through March 30, 2012. The grand prize – with an approximate retail value of $10,000 – is the winner's choice of a cruise for two from among a select group of sailings to a vast array of the captivating destinations Celebrity visits, including Alaska, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, Europe or the Caribbean, complete with roundtrip airfare for the winner and guest.

Celebrity is complementing the social component of the campaign with similar print, online and outdoor communications in various markets across North America, and even on in-flight tray tables on commuter flights from Boston, New York and Washington, DC.

"Our guests expect the finest of luxury in every element of a Crystal cruise. They have a keen appreciation for design and expect the very best in furnishings, finishes and fine appointments," says President Gregg Michel. "By the completion of this project, within the past five years we will have redesigned every room aboard Crystal Symphony – with great attention to rich, chic details."

Avenue Saloon - For this popular piano bar's makeover, Crystal is bringing back the designer who created the room's trademark intimate, "clubby" look: Kirk Nix, with LA's KNA Design. The piano, shutters, and warm, jazz-era atmosphere remain, but a room reconfiguration adds more seating, including antique-style, brass-tack couches and large, red wall sofa. Rich burgundies, golds, caramels, moss greens, and creams weave through the swivel, embossed-leaf barstools, hand-tufted carpets, plush pillows, textured wall upholstery, and artwork. Wood flooring, bar front and back, stone and wood bartop, edge-lit glass shelves, and pop-up ceiling finalize the new touches.

Palm Court - KNA is also revamping the ship's signature panoramic lounge for high tea, dancing, cocktail parties, and casual drinks with a view. A sleek, contemporary transformation brings the outside in, taking advantage of sweeping ocean views, while keeping emblematic room elements like palms and wicker. In addition to a new entrance, the bar and dance areas expand with added seating and a larger, spiral-design dance floor with overhead ceiling feature. Conversation tables; laser-cut marble flooring and carpet; lit, alabaster urns; and a studded nail and leather wall design offset the chartreuse, aqua, grey, and ivory color spectrum that plays throughout the all-new sofas and chairs.

Galaxy Lounge - Inspired by the glamorous theaters of yesteryear, Crystal is planning a grand redesign of its main theatre for live performances, Broadway-style musical productions, and lavish entertainment experiences. The elegant redo features namesake-reflective motifs, such as starburst lighting and carpeting and lit crystal-speckled wall panels that hint of the night sky. Formal purple drapes, "old gold" walls and a subtle diamond design in upholstery, fabric wallcovering, and glass doors suggest the richness of royalty. New, mohair chairs and sofas, cocktail tables, and ambient lighting underneath banquettes enhance the sophisticated supper club ambience. A new, limestone floor entrance is flanked by LCD screens announcing upcoming shows and attractions. Additional touches by London's SMC Design include artwork niches with abstract figurative sculpture and lively lilac, pink, and crimson shades befitting of a dramatic stage.

Hollywood Theatre - London-based Adfecto's redo of the ship's movie theater is a visual throwback to the classic Hollywood film era, with all comfort and technical advantages of contemporary cinemas. Plush leather armchairs with individual pull-out tables and an earth tone color palette of aubergine, ebony, cinnamon, ash grey, and ivory set the backdrop; circular-patterned carpeting, sconces lining the walls, and a new entrance reflect art deco elements. Technical updates include boosted surround sound audio processing and an enhanced lecture and presentation control system for enrichment speaker sessions.

Bridge Lounge - The ship's space for cards, games, and presentations receives a refined rejuvenation via all new furniture, including game tables and chairs; lighting, including striking chandelier, sconces, and recessed fixtures; floor-to-ceiling window treatments; wallcoverings and ceiling feature; presentation tools, including podium, white board, storage, video and sound system; and silver, blue, and sage color scheme, all courtesy of KNA Design.

Fantasia and Waves - A new layout for both Fantasia kids play area and Waves teen video arcade creates separate areas for crafts, relaxation, screenings (two TVs), teens, and computer usage (teens and kids separate). Designer Adfecto has also chosen fun, asymmetrical furniture, Fatboy™ bean bags, and vibrant colors like crimson, sapphire, and various shades of green. New interactive white board, board games, video game stations, and video project system further refresh junior activities options.

Other ship enhancements include new electronic, "do not disturb" doorbells in all staterooms (as installed on Crystal Serenity last May) and environmentally-efficient lighting installations for all electric upgrades/changes. All remodeling, as well as bi-annual maintenance and cleaning, will take place while dry docked at Hamburg's Blohm + Voss shipyard from June 1 to 16.

When the ship re-enters service again on February 4, passengers will be able to enjoy a brand-new Piazza atrium with the International Café and Vines wine bar, plus the new Alfredo's Pizzeria. On the top decks, passengers will enjoy poolside movies on the new giant Movies Under the Stars screen, and an opportunity to relax in the ship's "pocket of tranquility," the adults-only Sanctuary.

"It's been an incredible process over the past few years to retrofit these popular features onto our earlier-introduced ships, but we know our passengers appreciate that they can now find their favorite amenities on virtually any vessel in our fleet," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.

Throughout the drydock, Princess will be featuring a daily photo highlight of the transformation on its social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Google+.

The many changes to Sapphire Princess include:

• New Piazza Atrium -- The ship's atrium space will be redesigned to include this signature Princess feature -- a European-inspired social hub of the ship combining always-changing quick bites and light meals, beverages, entertainment, shopping and guest services. The Piazza will feature the International Café for pastries, fresh panini sandwiches, salads, fresh-baked cookies and a variety of coffee drinks. Passengers will also enjoy a new Vines wine bar offering a selection of more than 30 wines by the glass, plus a selection of tapas and sushi, and a wine shop where passengers can purchase their favorite bottle.

• Alfredo's Pizzeria -- Introduced last year aboard Grand Princess, Alfredo's will expand to its second location on Sapphire Princess. The sit-down pizzeria serves up an enticing menu of freshly prepared, hand-stretched, individual-size pizzas. Named for the line's master executive chef, Alfredo Marzi, the pizzeria will feature an open kitchen where passengers can watch chefs create their custom-made pies.

• Movies Under the Stars -- Sapphire Princess will be the final ship to introduce Movies Under the Stars on board. The giant poolside movie screen will showcase feature films, concerts, awards shows and sports events, and passengers can enjoy their viewing on padded loungers under warm, fleece blankets. Complimentary popcorn and other treats enhance the al fresco entertainment experience.

• The Sanctuary -- Sapphire Princess is also the final ship to receive The Sanctuary, a tranquil retreat exclusively for adults. Added prior to drydock, the new Sanctuary space has already received an enthusiastic welcome from passengers enjoying the enhanced comforts of this peaceful oasis, as Serenity Stewards attend to their every need, offering refreshing beverages, light snacks, pre-loaded MP3 players, and the cooling mist of an Evian atomizer.

Also part of the renovation are several relocated and upgraded venues, including the Art Gallery, Internet Café and Library, and the Photo-Video Gallery. New carpet and upholstery will be installed throughout the ship, and staterooms will feature new flat-screen televisions.

The newly renovated Sapphire Princess will debut on February 4 in Los Angeles when the ship will depart on a 14-day Hawaiian Islands cruise.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	33.08	+ 1.35%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	25.58	+ 3.27%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.39	+ 8.64%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Name the two 14,000 ton sister ships that entered service for Cunard in 1971 & 1972 and were replaced in 1976 & 1977.

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - Some of the inside cabins P&O's s/s Canberra (1960) had an interesting feature that made them brighter than inside cabins on most other cruise ships. What was the feature?

Answer - The interesting feature that Canberra had that made some of the inside cabins were windows that looked out into a "court". These cabins, called "court cabins", were built in such a way that the they were staggered down the corridor and the wall of the innermost cabin jutted slightly passed that of the more outer cabin and had a window placed there - thus light from the outside would penetrate these inside cabins. They were usually 3 deep. courtesy of Timothy Edgecombe

Cruise News - January 2, 2012

"Norwegian Breakaway is one of the most highly anticipated new ships and has seen great demand for her summer sailings to Bermuda," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "For her winter inaugural season, Norwegian Breakaway will offer guests a chance to escape from the cold of the Northeast and be transported in grand style to the tropics of the Caribbean and the Bahamas & Florida. We are also excited to announce that the ship will stop at our newly enhanced private island, Great Stirrup Cay, offering an exclusive beach experience."

Norwegian Breakaway's Bahamas & Florida cruises depart on Sundays and include stops in Nassau, Bahamas; Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay; and Orlando & the Beaches (Port Canaveral), Florida; along with three relaxing days at sea. These sailings run through April 27, 2014. The ship's 12-day Southern Caribbean cruises include the following ports of call: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Basseterre, St. Kitts; along with five relaxing days at sea.

In October of 2011, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Norwegian Cruise Line announced that beginning in May 2013, Norwegian Breakaway will be the largest ship to homeport year-round in New York City, bringing 140,000 additional embarking passengers into New York City over two years, resulting in an estimated $35 million in additional direct spending.

Currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Breakaway will be 144,017 gross tons and is scheduled for delivery in April 2013. Information on Norwegian Breakaway's accommodations and itineraries can be found on Norwegian's website.

The multi-million pound overhaul to the ship named by HM The Queen in 1995, also includes the addition of Sorrento, the new fee-based ($8 per person) Italian restaurant concept also launched on Adonia, but this time with an outdoor dining area; a newly designed aft deck with bar; refreshed decoration in the public areas and Oasis Spa, which also now features thermal loungers and a dedicated aerobics floor; and a new look to the Al Fresco Mediterranean cafe.

Oriana departed December 19th on a 17 night Western Mediterranean Christmas and New Year cruise, before departing on a 97 night world cruise on January 5, 2012.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “It is wonderful to welcome Oriana back into the fleet today with a fresh new look including new cabins, new dining options and all exclusively for adults.

“Oriana is the most established ship in our fleet, having been named by HM The Queen in 1995. Since then she has carried hundreds of thousands of British cruisers all over the world and I know that everyone will be excited to see her after her latest make-over.”

The blog will explore the myriad celebrations, accomplishments, family milestones and other inspired reasons to cruise, and each week another passenger will tell their story. The posts will chronicle stories from a diverse group of contributors – from long-time cruisers to those who set sail for the first time. Readers will find that some events go as planned, while others do not, and that many cruisers have found that unforgettable surprises make the best stories of all.

"Our passengers regularly share deeply personal stories with us about why they've cruised, and we wanted to share some of the most remarkable ones," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "With this new blog we're giving our passengers the starring role as storytellers, and we think their experiences will inspire others to think about the many reasons to cruise."

The first post, revealed today, is from Nancy Chamberlain-Fox of Trabuco Canyon, California who tells the story of cruising to celebrate the second time she and her husband were married...after a span of not being together for 27 years. The love story takes an unexpected turn when they discover that their multi-generational dinner table mates each share the same anniversary date (www.InspiredToCruise.com).

Also featured on the blog each week will be a short video called an "Escape Inspiration." These 30-second onboard moments will be introduced by a Princess crew member who will explain why the scene has meaning for them. The first video, introduced by Grand Princess Captain Anthony Herriott, features the mesmerizing wake view off the ship's fantail.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	32.64	- 0.49%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	24.77	+ 0.57%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.20	- 7.56%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Some of the inside cabins P&O's s/s Canberra (1960) had an interesting feature that made them brighter than inside cabins on most other cruise ships. What was the feature?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - Which cruise ship was the first to provide passengers Internet access?

Answer - In 1999, Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Sky became the first cruise ship to offer their passengers onboard Internet access.
courtesy of Herbert A Rideout, Fallbrook, CA

Cruise News - December 19 & 26, 2011

Non-GAAP net income for the full year 2011 was $1.9 billion, or $2.42 diluted EPS, compared to net income of $2.0 billion, or $2.47 diluted EPS, for the prior year. Full year 2011 reported net income was $1.9 billion, or $2.42 diluted EPS. Revenues for the full year 2011 were $15.8 billion compared to $14.5 billion for the prior year.

Carnival said that it recently implemented a fuel derivatives program to mitigate a portion of its economic risk attributable to potentially significant fuel price increases. Carnival said that it believes it is more meaningful to evaluate its earnings performance by excluding the impact of unrealized gains and losses on its fuel derivatives from non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share until the gains or losses are realized. For further information on the company's fuel derivatives program see "Fuel Derivatives" below.

Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison noted that earnings on a non-GAAP basis were in line with the company's September guidance for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Commenting on 2011 full year results, Arison said, "On the whole, 2011 was an encouraging year for our global portfolio of cruise brands. Our North American brands performed well, achieving an almost four percent revenue yield increase, while our European, Australian and Asian brand yields were in line with the prior year (constant dollars) despite having been significantly impacted by the geo-political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. Higher revenue yields partially offset a 32 percent increase in fuel prices, which reduced earnings by $535 million or $0.68 per share for the year."

Arison added, "Cash from operations of $3.8 billion provided more than ample funding for our $2.7 billion capital investment program and enabled Carnival to return excess cash to shareholders. Earlier this year, our quarterly dividend was increased from $0.10 to $0.25 per share resulting in $670 million of dividend distributions. In addition, we purchased 14.8 million of the company's shares in the open market at a cost of $455 million."

Key metrics for the fourth quarter 2011 compared to the prior year were as follows:

• On a constant dollar basis net revenue yields (net revenue per available lower berth day,"ALBD") increased 1.5 percent for 4Q 2011, which was in line with the company's September guidance, up 1.0 to 2.0 percent. Gross revenue yields increased 0.3 percent in current dollars.

• Net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD decreased 1.8 percent in constant dollars, less than the September guidance, down 3.0 to 4.0 percent. Gross cruise costs including fuel per ALBD in current dollars increased 2.6 percent.

• Fuel prices increased 39 percent to $680 per metric ton for 4Q 2011 from $488 per metric ton in 4Q 2010 and was in line with the September guidance of $686 per metric ton.

• Carnival implemented a fuel derivatives program in 4Q 2011, which resulted in $1 million of net unrealized gains on its portfolio of fuel derivatives. There were no realized gains or losses on fuel derivatives during 4Q 2011.

Full Year 2012 Outlook

At this time, cumulative advance bookings for 2012 are at slightly higher prices with slightly lower occupancies compared to the prior year. For the last six weeks, booking volumes for the first three quarters of 2012 are running well ahead of the prior year at lower prices.

Looking forward, Arison stated, "Our base of business for 2012 is solid and we are experiencing strong booking volumes leading into wave season, our heaviest booking period which begins in early January. Despite the uncertain economic environment, we anticipate a continued slow recovery in yields in 2012 driven by ongoing consumer recognition that our cruises provide an exceptional value."

He added, "A wide array of exciting innovations and the continued modernization of our existing global fleet should drive even greater consumer interest and enthusiasm for our brands. An example is Carnival Cruise Lines' recently announced Fun Ship 2.0, which is a multi-year $500 million investment to transform the shipboard experience through exciting partnerships and new branded spaces. Carnival Liberty, which was recently re-introduced with several of the new features, has generated exceptional buzz and has been well received by consumers and travel agents."

Based on current booking trends, Carnival said that it forecasts full year 2012 net revenue yields, on a constant dollar basis, to be up 1.0 to 2.0 percent. Carnival said that it expects net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD for the full year 2012 to be in line with the prior year on a constant dollar basis. At current exchange rates, full year 2012 net income is expected to be reduced by $135 million or $0.17 per share compared to 2011 due to changes in currency exchange rates.

Taking all the above factors into consideration, Carnival said that it forecasts full year 2012 non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.55 to $2.85, compared to 2011 non-GAAP diluted earnings of $2.42 per share.

Arison added, "We remain focused on strategic growth through the addition of two to three new ships per year and expect to continue to return excess cash to shareholders. Based on the above guidance, we estimate our cash from operations will approach $4 billion in 2012, while our capital investment commitment will be $2.6 billion. We expect to generate significant free cash flow in 2012 and beyond, which should provide further opportunities to return cash to shareholders."

During 2012, Carnival said that it will introduce three new ships. Costa Fascinosa is scheduled for delivery in April, while AIDAmar and Carnival Breeze are scheduled for delivery in May. Recently, P&O Cruises (Australia) sold Pacific Sun which will leave the fleet in July 2012.

First Quarter 2012 Outlook - First quarter constant dollar net revenue yields are expected to increase 1.5 to 2.5 percent compared to the prior year. Net cruise costs excluding fuel per ALBD for the first quarter are expected to be up 3.5 to 4.5 percent on a constant dollar basis compared to the prior year due primarily to the higher number of dry-dock days and related costs versus the prior year. Fuel costs for the first quarter are expected to increase $93 million compared to the prior year, costing an additional $0.12 per share.

Based on the above factors, including the higher fuel prices, Carnival said that it expects non-GAAP diluted earnings for the first quarter 2012 to be in the range of $0.06 to $0.10 per share versus 2011 non-GAAP earnings of $0.19 per share.

Designed to provide a thorough and rich three-hour experience, the See How It's Done Tour guides an intimate group of guests through several otherwise non-public areas of the ship, including the bridge, mooring deck, crew gym, theater, engine control room, prep rooms and the main dining room galley. At each area of the tour, guests have the opportunity to interact with expert members of the Celebrity crew. Each tour is followed by a savory wine-paired lunch hosted by an officer in the main dining room.

The Bridge Sail Away Experience presents the opportunity for vacationers to join the navigational team on the bridge as the ship sails away from port. Beginning 30 minutes before and concluding 30 minutes after departing, guests are given a tour and an overview of the bridge conducted by a senior Celebrity bridge officer. Guests also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the ship's captain.

"Celebrity has dedicated itself to providing guests with the finest in culinary experiences, award-winning service and engaging onboard activities," said Simon Weir, Director of Hotel Operations, Celebrity Cruises. "Now, with the addition of Celebrity Inside Access, vacationers can also satisfy their curiosity and gain rare, behind-the-scenes insight into a Celebrity ship's inner workings."

The Celebrity Inside Access program is offered on all ships and available for purchase onboard.

Carnival Inspiration provides an exciting new choice on this popular itinerary which encompasses three-day cruises departing Fridays to Ensenada and four-day cruises departing Mondays to Ensenada and Catalina Island. Previously, this itinerary was operated by the Carnival Paradise, which has been redeployed to Tampa.

The 70,000-ton Carnival Inspiration underwent an extensive multi-million-dollar refurbishment as part of the line's "Evolutions of Fun" enhancement program and includes such innovations as a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long water slide, 82-foot-long racing slides and a water spray area, a Serenity adults-only retreat, a tropical-themed resort-style main pool area and numerous other features.

Carnival Inspiration also includes a nine-hole miniature golf course, a 12,000-square-foot spa, a jogging track, and spacious facilities and supervised programming for children in three age groups (Camp Carnival for two- to 11-year-olds, Circle "C" for kids ages 12-14, and Club O2 for the 15- to 17-year-old set).

The ship also offers 12 lounges and bars, including a multi-level theatre showcasing lavish production shows, along with three restaurants, including two full-service dining rooms with extensive menus and wine lists and a 725-seat casual poolside eatery with a seemingly endless array of casual offerings, including a Mongolian wok venue with custom-made stir fries, a rotisserie, pasta- and meat-carving stations, a New York-style deli offering piled-high sandwiches, a 24-hour pizzeria with seven kinds of pies, and expansive buffets featuring different cuisines from around the world. A patisserie serving specialty coffees and sweets and a sushi bar offering Asian delicacies are also available.

Carnival Inspiration joins the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor which operates seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach.

Carnival is the West Coast cruise leader and is the only company to operate two ships from California on a year-round basis. Together, the Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Splendor are expected to carry 400,000 guests on an annual basis – more than any other cruise operator.

Reservations are currently being accepted for both the Carnival Inspiration's three- and four-day Baja cruises, as well as the Carnival Splendor's seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages.

"It's not even Christmas yet, but we are already looking forward to next spring when we make our first-ever appearance on a cruise ship," said Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts. "We will perform and meet fans aboard Norwegian Spirit as it's docked in Cozumel, Mexico on March 2. We hope you will join us!"

To promote the performance and the band's current Top 5, "Easy," which has just been certified gold with 500,000 digital downloads, radio stations in more than 20 top markets, including Canada, are holding on-air contests over the next several weeks for lucky listeners and their guests to win the seven-night cruise on Norwegian Spirit, along with airfare to New Orleans, and receive VIP tickets to the concert, including a special meet and greet with the band.

In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering guests on board the ship the opportunity to see the concert with two different ticket options available for purchase. The VIP package is available for $150 per person and gives guests the chance to get up close and personal with the band during a private cocktail reception, where they will have the opportunity to meet and greet with band members Jay, Joe Don and Gary, have their photo taken with the band and receive an autographed souvenir. Standard tickets are available for $50 per person and guarantee a seat in the ship's Stardust Theater for the concert.

Rascal Flatts has reached heights and achieved milestones reserved for country music' elite. They have set more venue attendance records than any country act en route to ticket sales of six million and counting. They have sold 20 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and earned 13 #1 singles. With the #1 debut on the Country Albums sales chart of Nothing Like This, Rascal Flatts becomes one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1. They have won over 40 awards from the ACM, CMA, AMA and People's Choice, among others, and they have received that ultimate honor for those who have impacted the culture—a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Norwegian Spirit will set sail from New Orleans on Saturday, February 26, 2012 on seven-day Western Caribbean cruise. Ports of call include: Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico, along with two relaxing days at sea.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	32.80	- 3.33%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	24.63	- 7.82%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.38	- 0.00%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Which cruise ship was the first to provide passengers Internet access?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - Today's P&O fleet includes a ship named Oriana, but she is not the first ship to have that name. The previous Oriana was was built in 1960 for P&O-Orient Lines. Whatever became of that ship?

Answer - Originally built for Orient Steam Navigation Co. and sailed for P&O until 1986 when she was sold and moved to Osaka as a floating hotel which was not successful and she then was sold to Chinese interests and moved to Shanghai again as a floating hotel in 2002. Moved again to Galian in 2004 and was severely damaged in a storm and sold to ship breakers in 2005.
courtesy of cant@sympatico.ca

Cruise News - December 12, 2011

Captain Okland sailed full speed to the stranded boaters, through worsening weather and very small crafts of other contest participants. With lookouts posted throughout the night, Crystal Serenity located the boaters' flare five hours later. Captain Okland carefully maneuvered close to the raft, and the shipwrecked persons were rescued directly onto Crystal Serenity.

Upon checkup in the ship's medical center, both survivors appear to be healthy. Crystal Serenity expects to arrive on schedule in St. Maarten on Sunday.

"Both individuals are in good spirits and, of course, very happy to be alive," says Crystal's President Gregg Michel. "We are so proud of the quick reaction and skilled seamanship of our crew that enabled them to save these brave men. While these young men hoped to cross the Atlantic in a most basic fashion, they are certainly experiencing the crossing in the most luxurious environment – an ironic, and heartwarming, turn of events."

Through the new campaign, Royal Caribbean is addressing the emotional aspects and motivations for taking a vacation with the award-winning cruise line. "The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally." engages consumers and invites them to explore their individual best selves on a Royal Caribbean ship. The new campaign speaks to the universal truths discovered through focus groups and quantitative research conducted in 16 countries around the world, where people feel a connection to the sea; where, at sea, one can feel detached from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and the responsibilities of taking care of everyone else; and that the Royal Caribbean brand conveys a sense of quality and best in class. Throughout, "The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally." is presented in an easily relatable fashion through the playful and witty tone of voice for which Royal Caribbean has been known, particularly through the "Shellphone."

"We are tapping into the sea's powerful, emotional force to reframe the context of cruising for consumers who don't understand what a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation offers," said Betsy O'Rourke, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. "'The Sea is Calling' is a global-scale campaign that will resonate with people no matter where they live, what language they speak, or whether or not they've cruised before. And we want vacationers everywhere to know that Royal Caribbean's distinctive and innovative ships, personal service and breadth of destination experiences is how we 'Answer it Royally.'"

Created by Royal Caribbean's lead advertising agency, JWT New York, in partnership with media agency Mindshare, the campaign will unfold over the coming weeks and officially launch in North America in January 2012, and then deploy globally throughout the new year. The Shellphone will begin appearing on Dec. 19 in a series of wild postings in major cities including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston and Miami. Headlines incorporated in the teaser campaign, such as "Not 3G, Sea G" and "Our Rollover Plan: Tan Front, Then Back," center on the Shellphone, driving curious consumers to www.TheSeaisCalling.com, where they will view the new brand campaign's concept video that reminds them of the call of the sea and invites them to answer it with Royal Caribbean.

The official kick-off will be the airing of aspirational television commercials of everyday people interacting with the "Shellphone" (30-second and 60-second versions) beginning Jan. 9, 2012. Consumers also can answer the call of the sea by declaring where in the world they would like to cruise and be entered into a sweepstakes at www.Facebook.com/RoyalCaribbean. More information about "The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally." is also available at www.TheSeaisCalling.com .

Royal Caribbean has been committed to answering the call of the sea for the past 40 years, sailing every major sea in the world. With its history of creativity and innovation – delivering many at-sea industry firsts, such as ice rinks, rock climbing walls, zip lines and Broadway shows – the cruise line continues to strive to deliver to guests an unforgettable and rejuvenating experience that appeals to vacationers of all ages.

The nine voyages — including a 16-day Great Barrier Holiday sailing Sydney to Singapore via Indonesia departing Dec. 22, 2012 and a 17-day trans-Pacific crossing from Kobe to Vancouver, British Columbia — will sail from December through April and offer extended ports calls and overnight stays at some of the most historical and exciting cities in the region, including Bangkok, Thailand; Shanghai and Xingang (Beijing), China, and Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan.

"Travel research continues to indicate that interest in the Far East is rising and Asia explorations remain on the wish lists of our guests," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, for Holland America Line. "Our Asia itineraries offer everything, from interesting shore excursions and cultural encounters to ports with deep historical roots and unique experiences."

Itineraries can be combined to form longer 28- or 31-day Collectors' Voyages, enabling guests to experience a more in-depth exploration of Asia's landmarks, as well as explore its mystical allure.

14-day Far East Explorer Voyages - Volendam's three 14-day Far East Discovery voyages sail between Hong Kong and Singapore and feature port calls at Koh Samui and Bangkok (overnight), Thailand; Sihanoukville (Kampong Saom), Cambodia, and Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Halong Bay, Vietnam. Departure dates are Jan. 7 and 21, and Feb. 4.

14-day China and Japan Discovery Voyage - Four 14-day China and Japan Discovery voyages sail between Hong Kong and Kobe (Osaka) and roundtrip Kobe, and include two overnight calls at Shangahi and Xingang, China. Additional ports of call include Dalian, China; Busan (Pusan), South Korea, and Nagasaki, Japan. Departure dates are Feb. 18, March 4 and 18, and (roundtrip Kobe) April 1.

17-day Trans-Pacific Repositioning Voyage - The 17-day trans-Pacific repositioning voyage departs April 15 from Kobe and sails east to Vancouver. In addition to exotic ports of call, the itinerary features scenic cruising through Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage in Alaska, and relaxing days at sea. Following an overnight at Yokohama (Tokyo), the ship calls at Hakodate and Kushiro, Japan, and Kodiak and Ketchikan, Alaska, as it makes it way to Canada for the start of the Alaska sailing season.

The refurbishment took place at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, from 24 November to 6 December, with work undertaken in all staterooms and suites, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the Queens Grill and Princess Grill Restaurants, the Commodore Club, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, Sir Samuel's Bar and Lounge and the children's Play Zone. The popular Golden Lion Pub also was completely redesigned. Tillberg Design Company who were involved in Queen Mary 2's original concept, were engaged by Cunard to develop the new designs.

"Queen Mary 2 is an iconic leader in the world of luxury ocean travel and consistently receives high ratings by guests and the cruise industry. A ship that still turns heads everywhere she goes, she is unquestionably the pride of our fleet," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. "We are committed to maintaining that impeccable reputation, and this significant refurbishment is an important investment on behalf of our guests."

A special new portrait of Her Majesty The Queen was unveiled today in in honour of her role in launching Queen Mary 2 in 2004. The commissioned oil painting - which will be displayed in the Grand Lobby - depicts The Queen during her final visit to Queen Elizabeth 2 in Southampton on 2 June 2008, and was painted by Gail Graham, an art director of The European magazine. This will be the second portrait of Her Majesty on board a Cunard ship. A specially-commissioned portrait of Her Majesty also hangs in the Grand Lobby of the Line's newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, which she also launched in October 2010.

"Her Majesty has named four Cunard ships: Caronia (1947), Queen Elizabeth 2 (1967), Queen Mary 2 (2004) and Queen Elizabeth (2010)," said Shanks. "We had a magnificent Cunard-commissioned portrait of her by Sir Oswald Birley which originally hung on Caronia and then aboard QE2, and we have the celebrated official portrait of Her Majesty on board Queen Elizabeth which was painted last year by Isabel Peachey. So, it is with great pleasure that we extend this tradition to our flagship, Queen Mary 2, today."

"Not only is it a honour to receive a commission for a painting of The Queen, it is a particular honour to receive one for a portrait which will hang in such a significant location aboard Queen Mary 2. Most of my portraits are in private hands, so it is gratifying that this will be seen by so many," said artist Gail Graham.

Queen Mary 2's 14-day refit required a team of thousands of workers replacing the equivalent of almost ten football fields of carpet and manufacturing about 18 miles of fabric into over 6,000 individual items.

Specific details of her refurbishments include:

• Staterooms – All 1,310 staterooms and suites aboard Queen Mary 2 received a fresh look with new carpeting, curtains, bedspreads and some received new furniture. The revised design is in keeping with current concepts, but with an enhanced sense of comfort, as can be experienced in luxury hotels around the world.

• Golden Lion Pub – With its increasingly popular traditional British pub lunch menus, busy bar, exciting sports events and nightly music offerings, the Pub has benefitted from a complete refurbishment and redesign to enhance its endearing appeal. The new design retains the British pub atmosphere with warm colours and plush seating in keeping with the same venues aboard sister ships Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Upgraded plasma television screens also have been installed.

• Canyon Ranch SpaClub – An extensive refurbishment of the first Canyon Ranch SpaClub at sea included reconditioning the teak surrounds of the hydrotherapy pool and adjacent wet areas and a general upgrade of all the facilities. In addition, new exercise machines in the fitness centre and new and improved features in the Beauty Salon have been installed.

• Queens Grill and Princess Grill Restaurants – A new, lighter carpet design for both of Queen Mary 2's exclusive Grill restaurants will enhance the existing ambience as guests get decked out to experience the finest dining at sea.

• Commodore Club – One of the most popular public rooms on board, this lounge overlooking the ship's bow has been refreshed with a new carpet design and additions to the white leather furnishings of chairs, sofas and bar stools.

• Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar – This venue featuring the exquisite Veuve Clicquot brand of champagne has a new carpet and new soft furnishings.

• Sir Samuel's – This busy venue, which features specialty coffees during the day and an impressive menu of wines at night, received new carpeting and furniture coverings.

• The Play Zone – These facilities for younger guests underwent a complete refurbishment, including new soft play areas, plus upgrades including the very latest in electronic gaming technology and entertainment.

Carnival Paradise is replacing the Carnival Inspiration on four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises from the Port of Tampa, becoming the newest Carnival "Fun Ship" to operate this popular itinerary.

On this route, Carnival Paradise departs Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. The Carnival Inspiration is being deployed to Long Beach, Calif., to operate year-round three- and four-day cruises.

Carnival Paradise joins the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend, which sails year-round seven-day Caribbean voyages from Tampa.

Carnival is the only cruise line to offer year-round cruises from Tampa and has maintained a year-round presence since it launched seven-day Caribbean cruises in 1994. Over the years, the company has dramatically expanded its presence at the Port of Tampa, adding newer and larger ships and offering a greater variety of itineraries.

This year, the line's two-year-round ships, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Legend, are expected to carry an estimated 300,000 passengers from Tampa – a 10-fold increase versus Carnival's first year of operations there.

"With its convenient location, excellent facilities and proximity to top tourist attractions, Tampa has become one of our most popular homeports and Carnival Paradise will provide an exciting and affordable short cruise option from Florida's west coast," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO. "The Tampa Port Authority is a valued business partner and we're proud and delighted to continue our excellent relationship with the Carnival Paradise," he added.

"The Tampa Port Authority is thrilled that Carnival Cruise Lines recognizes the importance of Florida's west coast market and continues to enhance its year round services," said Tampa Port Director Richard Wainio. "The addition of the Carnival Paradise is a testament to Carnival's longstanding success with year round cruising from Tampa. We value our good relationship with Carnival and look forward to working together to serve cruise passengers in the Port of Tampa," he noted.

Carnival Paradise offers a distinctive décor with dramatic public spaces that pay homage to great ocean liners of the past, with memorable venues such as the Queen Mary Lounge, Normandie Theater, Rotterdam Bar and the Leonardo Lounge.

The ship also features spacious, modern facilities and programming for children in three age groups, along with a three swimming pools, including one with a spiral water slide. Dining options include two formal restaurants with extensive menus and wine lists and an expansive poolside eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria. Other features include a 12,000-square-foot health and fitness center, a jogging track, and Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat.

These cruises go on sale to Norwegian's top travel partners and Latitudes Rewards members (past guests) today, December 13, 2011, and to the general public on Thursday, December 15.

"The Caribbean and the Bahamas & Florida represent the majority of our winter cruising destinations and therefore we are pleased to offer a variety of itineraries, ships and homeports," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer. "Following a two-year hiatus, we are also pleased to bring Norwegian Star back to the West Coast to sail to the Mexican Riviera and through the Panama Canal."

Caribbean and Bahamas & Florida Deployment- Norwegian will have three ships sailing from Miami in the winter of 2013/14. Norwegian Epic returns for her fourth season in Miami, sailing a series of 25 seven-day Easter Caribbean cruises from November 2, 2013 to April 19, 2014 departing on Saturdays. Norwegian Pearl is set to embark on a series of 26 seven-day Western Caribbean cruises from October 20, 2013 through April 13, 2014. Offering a longer cruise option, Norwegian Sun will sail 10 and 11-day Southern Caribbean cruises with Sunday and Wednesday departures from October 9, 2013 through April 16, 2014. Ports of call on the 10-day cruise include: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten; along with four relaxing days at sea. On the 11-day cruise, Norwegian Sun's ports of call include: Cartagena, Colombia; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Philipsburg, St. Maarten and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; as well as five relaxing days at sea.

In New Orleans, Norwegian Jewel will make her debut on October 13, 2013, offering a series of 26 seven-day Western Caribbean cruises through April 13, 2014. This is the first time the line is bringing a Jewel class ship to the Big Easy, offering increased capacity. Additional features include The Haven by Norwegian, a deluxe enclave of suites, pool and other amenities in a private access area on the top of the ship, along with Nickelodeon programming. New for 2013, Norwegian Jewel will sail alternating Western Caribbean itineraries in November and December. The first Western Caribbean itinerary features Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Bay Islands Honduras; and Belize City, Belize. The second itinerary includes Ocho Rios or Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Norwegian Dawn will return to Tampa and sail a series of 22 seven-day Western Caribbean sailings from November 17, 2013 through April 20, 2014. The ship will also offer a two-night cruise on November 15, 2013.

From New York, Norwegian Gem will continue her year-round sailings offering seven-day Bahamas & Florida cruises from April 27, 2013 through September 7, 2013. The port order of the Bahamas & Florida sailings has been changed to include more port time in Orlando & the Beaches (Port Canaveral). The ship's first port of call will be Nassau, Bahamas, followed by Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, Norwegian's private island; followed by Orlando & the Beaches (Port Canaveral) and three relaxing days at sea. Beginning October 19, 2013, Norwegian Gem will sail 21 nine-day Eastern Caribbean cruises through April 23, 2014 with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Samaná, Dominican Republic, along with four relaxing days at sea. The ship will also offer a series of six one-night cruises from New York offering a quick getaway on November 15 and December 13, 2013, along with January 10, February 7, March 7 and April 4, 2014.

Panama Canal and Mexican Riviera Deployment- For the first time since April 2011, Norwegian will seasonally base a ship in Los Angeles, sailing a series of both 14-day Panama Canal and seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages. Beginning on October 13, 2013, Norwegian Star is scheduled for eight Panama Canal cruises between Los Angeles and Miami. The nine seven-day Mexican Riviera sailings are interspersed in December 2013 and March and April 2014. Ports of call include: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, along with three relaxing days at sea.

Canada & New England - For fall foliage viewing at its best, Norwegian Dawn will embark on four Canada & New England itineraries between Boston and Quebec from September 13 through October 4, 2013. These sailings can also be combined for an ultimate 14-day Canada & New England experience.

Norwegian Gem offers a series of five seven-day Canada & New England cruises from New York from September 9 through October 12, 2013. Ports of call include: Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick; Bar Harbor, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode Island.

Transatlantics/Repositionings - In addition, Norwegian Epic will make two transatlantic voyages: an 11-day sailing on April 20, 2013 from Miami to Barcelona and a 13-day cruise October 20, 2013 from Barcelona to Miami. Norwegian Star will also make two transatlantic crossings: a 16-day from New Orleans to Copenhagen on April 21, 2013 and a 12-day voyage from Copenhagen to Miami on October 1, 2013.

There are also a number of repositioning cruises available between various departure ports that visit exotic destinations in the Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal. Norwegian Dawn will set sail on a 12-day Caribbean Escape from Tampa to Boston on April 21, 2013. The ship will return to Tampa from Boston on November 1, 2013 on a 14-day Caribbean Escape.

Norwegian Jewel, Pearl and Sun will also offer a number of Panama Canal repositioning cruises between Miami and Los Angeles varying in length from 14 to 17 days.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	33.93	- 0.67%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	26.72	- 5.28%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.38	- 0.00%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Today's P&O fleet includes a ship named Oriana, but she is not the first ship to have that name. The previous Oriana was was built in 1960 for P&O-Orient Lines. Whatever became of that ship?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - Which current cruise ship was almost destroyed by fire in 1990, ran aground in 1994, and at one time was popular on the 3 and 4 day Bahamas and Mexico run?

Answer - The ship is Louis Cruise Line's Cristal. Originally Sally Albatross, then Leeward, then Superstar Taurus, then Silja Opera, then Opera and now Cristal.
courtesy of Ilpo Mäkinen

Cruise News - December 5, 2011

In designing Celebrity Reflection, the line focused on what could make the best even better, and already announced plans to add a new deck to allow for additional staterooms and the line's first AquaClass Suites, inspired by guest demand. And today, the line announced plans to also introduce Celebrity's first "Signature Suites," and the jaw-dropping new "Reflection Suite."

"Everything we introduced on Celebrity Silhouette illustrated our devotion to offering new and differentiated experiences for our guests, and the feedback we're receiving is rewarding validation that our guests love it – from The Lawn Club Grill, to The Porch, to The Alcoves, to The Hideaway, not to mention they continually tell us how much they love the first three Solstice Class ships," said Celebrity's President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "On Celebrity Reflection, we've taken the opportunity to further elevate our onboard offerings, with entirely new 'Signature Suites' and our first 'Reflection Suite,' in addition to our first-ever AquaClass Suites, collectively creating the most vivid examples yet of the modern luxury that defines Celebrity."

Located in a private area of the ship's 14th deck, Celebrity Reflection's five Signature Suites each offer a 441-square-foot stateroom area and 118-square foot veranda, with floor-to-ceiling windows and veranda doors, all designed to maximize the stunning views of the sea. Celebrity's Signature Suites each can accommodate up to four guests, and will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet.

The entire area – including the stunning new Reflection Suite – features cardkey access exclusively for guests booked in the elite group of suites, such that a family or group of up to 26 guests traveling together can enjoy a private, six-suite modern luxury vacation experience.

Nestled in the highly desirable corner location near Celebrity's new Signature Suites, the Reflection Suite will be the brand's first two-bedroom suite, complete with a truly distinctive sea-view bathroom extending out over the edge of the ship, a veranda tub with soothing rain shower, and panoramic views courtesy of the wraparound veranda. The 1,636-square-foot Reflection Suite with 194-square-foot veranda – complete with Celebrity's luxurious 24/7 butler service – can accommodate up to six guests.

To provide an entirely new, breakthrough bedding experience for guests booked in Celebrity's Reflection Suite, Signature Suites and Penthouse Suite, Celebrity has partnered with Reverie®, a leading innovator in luxury bedding, to deliver the Reverie® Dream Sleep System™. The patented sleep system features a premium Reverie mattress that allows guests, with the assistance of their butler, to customize the softness of their bed.

Additionally, Reverie's exclusive technology enables the iPod Touch (third and fourth generation), iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPad 2, iPad and Reverie Remote app to act as a remote control for the Reverie Sleep System, allowing guests to easily operate massage features and adjust the elevation of the mattress. Pressing "zero gravity" on the remote will take guests to a position in which the feet and head are raised slightly to improve circulation and relieve lower back pressure, creating the ultimate sensation of "weightlessness," similar to the sensation felt in a zero-gravity chamber.

Reverie also has integrated remote control technology into the Sleep System so guests can turn appliances around the room that are connected to the power outlet off or on with the touch of the screen on the iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad. Guests can enjoy this innovative technology through an iPad provided in each of the new suites.

To complete the innovative sleep experience, Celebrity's suite guests also will enjoy the custom-embroidered, 100% Egyptian cotton linens featured in Celebrity's new "eXhale" bedding program, which was introduced on the newly-Solsticized Celebrity Infinity December 3.

Driven by high demand for Celebrity's industry-first AquaClass category of spa-inspired accommodations, and by way of an additional deck being added to Celebrity Reflection, as previously announced, Celebrity will introduce on Celebrity Reflection the line's first AquaClass Suites. Each will offer 300 square feet of luxurious interior space and spacious 79-square-foot verandas, paired with all the amenities associated with Celebrity's AquaClass accommodations, including exclusive and complimentary access to the highly-rated specialty restaurant, "Blu," noted for its inviting, modern design and flavorful, healthy cuisine. The new suites also will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet.

In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection also will present an additional eight luxurious new Sky Suites, 19 additional plush ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 additional inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.

"We gave a great deal of thought to how to ideally accommodate everything we're adding," said Hanrahan. "We're widening the ship slightly, enabling us to introduce each of these exceptional new venues without compromising an inch of Celebrity's premium space ratio and traffic flow."

Celebrity Reflection will offer 245 more loungers on its expanded pool deck to suit the increased overall guest capacity, as well as 45 additional seats in the Celebrity Theater, 118 in Oceanview Cafe, 24 additional seats each in Blu and in Tuscan Grille, four more in Qsine, and 40 additional seats in the main dining room, where Celebrity offers Celebrity Select Dining(SM), the industry's first flexible dining option allowing guests to choose when they wish to dine on a flexible, day-by-day basis.

Celebrity Reflection will enter service October 12, 2012, on a nine-night European cruise from Amsterdam to Barcelona.

"Alaska, with its extraordinary beauty and wildlife, continues to be an extremely popular summer destination for cruisers and therefore there is a lot of demand for increased capacity and more varied and unique cruises," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer. "With the strides made by the state government, we felt the time was right to add a third ship in Alaska, and give our guests the once in a lifetime opportunity to see more of this incredible destination. We've also added the option of extending their stay with a Cruisetour that will enhance their overall experience."

Alaska Deployment - In Alaska, beginning May 20, 2013, Norwegian Sun's northbound itinerary departs Vancouver, British Columbia on Mondays, and will cruise the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier and make stops in the Alaskan favorites of Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau. On her southbound itineraries from Whittier, Alaska, the ship will cruise the Inside Passage, Sawyer Glacier and Hubbard Glacier, as well as making stops in Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Icy Strait Point.

Beginning May 18, 2013, Norwegian Jewel will sail a series of 18 seven-day Sawyer Glacier itineraries from Seattle, Washington every Saturday with stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska; along with Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Jewel not only offers a fantastic itinerary, but also brings extra fun for the kids with Nickelodeon family programming. The 2,394 passenger Norwegian Pearl begins a series of 18 seven-day Glacier Bay itineraries from Seattle, Washington every Sunday with stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska; along with Victoria, British Columbia.

New for the 2013 summer season in Alaska are four Cruisetour options which provide the opportunity to combine a pre or post-cruise land package with Norwegian Sun's cruises from Whittier, Alaska. Ranging in length from four to six days, the Cruisetours feature two nights in Denali National Park and are fully escorted by a local Alaskan tour guide for the most authentic experience possible. Highlights of the Cruisetours also include a stop at an Iditarod sled dog musher's house (on four and five-night tours), along with a ride on the Alaskan railroad. More details on the Alaska Cruisetours will be available in early 2012.

Europe Deployment - In Europe, Norwegian Epic will return for her third season, sailing seven-day Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona beginning May 5, 2013 through October 14, 2013. The new Western Mediterranean itinerary features five ports of call in three countries -- Spain, Italy and France -- and a call to Palma, Majorca, Spain. Guests will also have the opportunity to sail round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy or Marseille, France giving them the flexibility to choose the homeport that is more convenient for them. There is also a four-day Western Mediterranean sailing on May 1, 2013.

Norwegian Star will make her debut in the Baltic replacing Norwegian Sun and will offer a series of 15 nine-day Baltic Capital cruises from Copenhagen, Denmark. Some highlights of this popular itinerary include two full days in St. Petersburg, Russia and an afternoon cruise of the Stockholm Archipelago upon the ship's departure from Stockholm, Sweden. Rounding out the season, Norwegian Star will offer a unique 14-day Norway, Iceland and Faroe Island cruise from Copenhagen on September 19, 2013.

Norwegian Jade returns to Venice on May 4, 2013 for the summer season and will offer alternating seven-day Greek Isles and seven-day Adriatic, Greece and Turkey itineraries. In the fall/winter, Norwegian Jade will reposition to Rome (Civitavecchia) and offer a series of eight 10-day Eastern Mediterranean and nine 11-day Mediterranean & the Holy Land beginning on October 26, 2013 through April 12, 2014.

Beginning on April 17, 2013, Norwegian Spirit will once again sail the waters of the Mediterranean offering 12-day Grand Mediterranean open jaw itineraries from Barcelona, Spain and Venice, Italy through October 14, 2013. The comprehensive itinerary highlights the best of the Mediterranean with nine ports of call in five different countries including an overnight in Venice. On October 26, 2013, Norwegian Spirit begins a series of 20 nine-day Canary Island cruises. Guests will have the option to sail round-trip from Malaga, Spain giving them the flexibility to choose the homeport that is more convenient for them.

Bermuda Deployment - In the summer of 2013, Norwegian Cruise Line will significantly increase its capacity in Bermuda with the arrival of its newest ship, the 4,000-pasenger Norwegian Breakaway, sailing a series of 22 seven-day cruises from New York, New York, beginning May 12, 2013. Departing on Sundays, the ship will spend three full days in Bermuda, along with three days at sea.

The newly refurbished Norwegian Dawn will return to Boston, Massachusetts for the summer on May 3, 2013 and will sail a series of 22 seven-day Bermuda cruises departing every Friday.

Hawaii Deployment - Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawai`i's main islands. Because of popular demand for this itinerary, the company is opening Pride of America's seven-day Hawai`i inter-island cruises departing Honolulu, Hawaii every Saturday through April 18, 2015**. Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; Kona, Hawai`i; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; and an afternoon cruise of the breathtaking Nãpali Coast.

Bahamas "Getaway" Cruises - For a shorter cruise option, Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas year-round from Miami through April 25, 2014. The three-day Bahamas cruise departs on Fridays and includes stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas, which has recently received $25 million in enhancements, including a new dining facility, marina and expanded beachfront. On Mondays, the ship departs Miami on a four-day Bahamas cruise with stops in Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The recent survey polled 1,000 Americans and examined how travel plays a part in bucket list goals, including New Year's resolutions for 2012. Other findings include:

Travel is Tops - If Americans could only accomplish one goal in their lifetime, 72% would choose a travel goal. Other popular goals included professional (15%) and academic (7%), while surprisingly few named fitness (5%) as a life objective.

New Year's Resolutions -- 2012 Optimism - Nearly half (46%) of Americans plan on making a New Year's resolution, and among these physical health (73%) and financial health (42%) are top picks, and more than one-third of Americans plan to make a travel-related resolution (37%). Of those surveyed, it looks like 2012 will be successful for many, with 92% saying they think they'll fulfill their New Year's resolution next year.

Dream Big - You don't have to be ready to kick the bucket to consider what you want to get done in your lifetime. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans have a list of places they want to go and things they want to do before they die. More surprising, younger Americans are really embracing the lists. Americans ages 18-34 (70%) are more likely to have a bucket list than those ages 35 and older (63%).

We're All in This Together - Sometimes having loved ones by your side can kick-start motivation. Two out of five (40%) Americans with bucket lists think having a friend or family member along for the ride would make it easier to cross items off their list. Who do most travel-hungry Americans want by their side? Results show 67% want their significant other as their travel companion, followed by their children (32%), friends (31%), parents (23%) and siblings (22%).

Planning is Key to Crossing Off - What's the key to crossing things off a bucket list? Roughly half (46%) of Americans think having a concrete plan to cross one item per year off their list is the best strategy to move through their lists. Other helpful approaches include partnering with a friend or family member (40%) or making a private list (27%), while making a public list such as on a social media site (10%) seems the least helpful.

Sharing is Caring - What do you do when your significant other's list differs from yours? When crossing items off their bucket lists, 63% of those with a significant other would alternate items on their list with items on their significant other's list. Less popular choices include doing whichever is least expensive (12%), doing whichever is easiest (11%), doing items from each list separately (8%), or doing something entirely different that's not on either list (6%).

"It's no surprise that travel tops Americans' bucket list of life goals because we know that travel experiences often create our most meaningful life memories," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "So as people gear up to make their resolutions for the new year, we're ready to help inspire their choices, wherever they may wish to go in the world."

Current Latitudes members will automatically be enrolled in the new Latitudes Rewards program and will remain in the same tier or will be upgraded to the appropriate higher tier, depending on the total number of cruise nights and stateroom categories sailed.

"The satisfaction and loyalty of our guests is very important to us," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's president and chief executive officer. "Our new Latitudes Rewards program demonstrates our commitment to delivering the highest levels of guest satisfaction while rewarding our loyal guests with enhanced benefits. We are dedicated to making sure our guests have the best possible cruise experience and look forward to welcoming them back on board again and again."

Latitudes Rewards members earn rewards points in four different ways, making it faster and easier than ever before to move up to the next tier. Members now earn one point per cruise night, providing an opportunity to gain more points the longer the guests' sail. Additional points can be earned when booking a suite or any accommodation in The Haven by Norwegian, booking nine months or more in advance, or when taking advantage of the exclusive monthly "Latitudes Rewards Insider" offers. Latitudes Rewards tiers are based on the total amount of points earned: Bronze members are classified as guests with one to 19 points; Silver members are 20 to 47 points; Gold members are 48 to75 points; and Platinum members are those with 76 or more points.

In addition to current member benefits such as priority check-in, members-only cocktail parties, access to an on-board program representative and a complimentary online magazine, new benefits have been added to the program. For cruises departing on or after December 5, 2011 the new loyalty program includes special onboard perks, based on the guest's tier level, such as chocolate covered strawberries, ship pins, nightly treats and discounts on packages in the photo gallery.

Latitudes Rewards members will now be able to see their total rewards points, view their cruise history and tier status, including how many points are needed to advance to the next tier, at http://www.ncl.com/myncl.

Holders of Carnival Corporation common stock or Carnival plc ADSs will receive a dividend payable in U.S. dollars. The dividend for Carnival plc ordinary shares will be payable in sterling unless shareholders elected to receive the dividend in U.S. dollars by November 25, 2011.

Dividends payable in sterling were converted from U.S. dollars at the exchange rate quoted by the Bank of England in London at 12 noon on December 1, 2011 (US$1 = 63.65372 pence). Accordingly, the dividend payable in sterling on December 16, 2011, will be 15.91343 pence per share.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	34.16	+ 7.59%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	28.21	+ 13.34%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	2.38	- 4.80%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Which current cruise ship was almost destroyed by fire in 1990, ran aground in 1994, and at one time was popular on the 3 and 4 day Bahamas and Mexico run?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question - Holland America's Rotterdam of 1959 (now a hotel ship in Rotterdam) had a unique central staircase that allowed first class and tourist class passengers to use the the stairs at the same time without ever meeting each other. How was this feat accomplished and what was the inspiration for this design feature?

Answer - The Rotterdam of 1959 had a staircase that comprised of two inter-spiralling staircases that allowed both first class and tourist class to travel vertically and permitted them to access their own grade of deck. This feature was copied from the Chateau de Chambord in France .
ccourtesy of Les Grant